National Hurricane Center tracking Invest 93L, 94L.Will they become Humberto, Imelda?

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Two tropical systems are building up and could become named storms in the next few days as the hurricane season ramps up, according to the National Hurricane Center.

One, dubbed Invest 93L or AL93, may threaten Bermuda and potentially the east coast of the United States, the other, Invest 94L or AL94, is in the northeastern Caribbean Sea and is expected bring heavy rain and winds to the Caribbean islands before moving up along the coast.

“93L seems fairly likely to become a recurving hurricane similar to Gabrielle. 94L will take a more westerly track and could pose a threat to the East Coast, but it’s not clear how strong it will get due to interaction with the islands,” Andrew Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, said on X Sept. 23. “And of course these waves are close enough that we could see direct and/or indirect interaction between them. Complicated forecast!”

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Where is Hurricane Gabrielle?

Farther out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Gabrielle is hanging on to Category 3 status Wednesday morning with maximum winds of 115 mph, according to the latest NHC update. The storm is expected to continue weakening steadily over the next few days but will likely still be a hurricane when it hits the Azores and could even reach western Europe as a tropical wave by the weekend, bringing rain and localized flooding to Spain, Portugal and the coast of France.

Rough surf and dangerous rip currents will continue to affect the east coast of Florida down to West Palm Beach until at least Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, according to a statement from the National Weather Service.

AL93 and AL94 could become Humberto and Imelda soon

Of the three tropical waves the NHC is tracking, the one farthest to the west has the best chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next few days. Invest 93L is about 700 miles east of the Leeward Islands and has an 80% chance of forming by Friday as it moves into the western Tropical Atlantic, forecasters said.

Invest 93L (aka AL93) is expected to bring rain and wind through the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on Wednesday and Thursday before moving north to the Bahamas, Accuweather forecasters said, depending on how quickly and where it organizes. Steering currents could bring this storm close to North Carolina this weekend with strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous surf.

Closer to home, a second tropical wave, Invest 94L (aka AL94), is producing a large area of disorganized showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds across much of the Windward and Leeward Islands, the NHC said. It’s expected to spread heavy rainfall and gusty winds into Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Wednesday, and across the Dominican Republic beginning Wednesday night.

The system is expected to become a tropical depression later this week when it’s near the Bahamas, forecasters said, and will continue moving to the northwest into early next week when heavy rain and gusty winds may affect Bermuda by Sunday night.

Both systems may bring more rough surf to the eastern U.S. shores on their current paths. A third wave in the eastern Atlantic is not expected to develop, the NHC said.

The next two storm names for the 2025 hurricane season are Humberto and Imelda.

So far we’ve seen two hurricanes this season and both of them developed with unnerving speed. Hurricane Erin formed on Aug. 15 and strengthened into a powerful Category 5 hurricane within 24 hours. Hurricane Gabrielle formed in the central Atlantic Sept. 21 and spun up into a Category 4 by Sept. 22.

Here’s the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 5 a.m., Sept. 24:

Rapid intensification: How did Hurricane Gabrielle become a Category 4 in a day?

What tropical waves, disturbances are in Atlantic basin now?

Invest 93L, Central and Western Tropical Atlantic: Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with a tropical wavelocated about 700 miles east of the Leeward Islands continues to show signs of organization.

Environmental conditions are forecast to be favorable for further development, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the next couple of days while the system moves west-northwestward to northwestward into the western tropical Atlantic, well north of the Leeward Islands.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: medium, 80 percent.

• Formation chance through 7 days: high, 90 percent.

Invest 94L, Eastern Caribbean Sea: A tropical wave over the northeastern Caribbean Sea continues toproduce a large area of disorganized showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds across much of the Windward and Leeward Islands. This wave is expected to move west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph, spreading heavy rainfall and gusty winds into Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today, and across the Dominican Republic beginning tonight.

The system is then expected to slow down and turn northwestward when it reaches the southwestern Atlantic in a couple of days. Environmental conditions are forecast to be more conducive for development late this week and weekend, and a tropical depression is likely to form when the disturbance is in the vicinity of the Bahamas.

Interests in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamasshould monitor the progress of this system.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 30 percent.

• Formation chance through 7 days: medium, 80 percent.

Other tropical waves being monitored by National Hurricane Center:

• A far eastern Atlantic tropical wave has been relocated to near 37W from 02N to 13N moving west at 15-20 kt. No significant convection is depicted at this time in association to this wave.

Spaghetti models for Invest 93L. Will it affect Florida?

Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. 

Spaghetti models for Invest 94L. How close will it get?

Where is Hurricane Gabrielle going?

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What do the colored, hatched areas on the NOAA map mean?

The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center’s tropical outlook map indicate “areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop,” said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.

The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop, with yellow being low, orange medium, and red high.

The National Hurricane Center generally doesn’t issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.

“If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won’t wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn’t become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare,” Rhome said.

Are any hurricanes coming to Florida?

Not at this time. Hurricane Gabrielle is well out into the Atlantic and it;’s too early to tell about the tropical waves the NHC is tracking.

➤ Excessive rainfall forecast

Colorado State University predicting tropical activity will pick up

In its latest two-week forecast for Sept. 17-30, Colorado State University forecasters predicted activity will pick up over the next couple of weeks.

“Global model ensembles are hinting at potential additional tropical cyclone development in one to two weeks in both the eastern/central Atlantic as well as the Gulf/western Caribbean.

“The primary threat formation area for major hurricanes in mid- to late September is in the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.”

Forecasters urge all residents to keep an eye on the tropics and to always be prepared

Officials regularly encourage Florida residents to prepare for storms before a hurricane is approaching, while shelves are fully stocked and you aren’t battling crowds all rushing to the store at the same time.

“It only takes one storm to make it an impactful year for your community,” the National Hurricane Center Miami posted on X.

➤ See list of emergency supplies you can now buy tax free

On Aug. 1, specific hurricane supplies became permanently tax-free in Florida, ranging from batteries to generators.

➤ Don’t have a hurricane supply kit? From the basics to the extras, here’s what you need

Here are some of the basics you should have:

• Non-perishable food

• Two-week supply of medications

• Flashlight

• A go-bag with essential supplies in case you need to leave quickly

• Portable cellphone chargers

• Battery-operated radio

• List of emergency phone numbers, including those for family members

• Copy of your insurance policy

Florida weather radar for Sept. 24, 2025

Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida

When does hurricane season end?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.

The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.

When is the peak of hurricane season?

The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.

Hurricane names for 2025 season

Here are the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, along with how to pronounce them. The first hurricane of the season typically forms Aug. 11.

• Andrea  (June 20)

• Barry  (June 29)

• Chantal (July 5)

• Dexter: (Aug. 3)

• Erin: (Aug. 11; hurricane Aug. 15; major hurricane Aug. 16)

• Fernand: (Aug. 23)

• Gabrielle: ga-bree-ELL (Sept. 17)

• Humberto: oom-BAIR-toh

• Imelda: ee-MEHL-dah

• Jerry: JEHR-ee

• Karen: KAIR-ren

• Lorenzo: loh-REN-zoh

• Melissa: meh-LIH-suh

• Nestor: NES-tor

• Olga: OAL-guh

• Pablo: PAHB-lo

• Rebekah: reh-BEH-kuh

• Sebastien: se-BAS-tee-en

• Tanya: TAHN-yuh

• Wendy: WEN-dee

National Hurricane Center map: See what forecasters watching now

Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:

Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city

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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Center tracking possible future Humberto and Imelda